CountryWide Autumn 2026

In this episode, Stephen McNally, Principal Technical Advisor at Irrigation New Zealand, explains why choosing the cheapest irrigation system upfront can lead to higher long-term costs and reduced performance. He outlines how key design decisions, such as pipe sizing and pump selection, directly influence energy use, efficiency and the overall lifespan of an irrigation system.

In this episode, Curtis Pannett, farming in Central Otago, explains how yard weaning gives calves a better start to life and improves long-term growth and temperament. Drawing on experience from his own farm and large Australian cattle operations, he shares his advice on how calves are kept in the yards, getting them used to people and dogs helps them settle quickly, mustering and better management with moving winter feed breaks.

In this episode, Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert at PGG Wrightson, explains why farmers should think carefully before applying nitrogen to struggling fodder beet crops after a difficult 2025–26 season. With cold conditions, slow crop growth and persistent wet weather impacting yields across the country, Andrew outlines why adding nitrogen late in the season may not deliver the extra feed farmers are hoping for.

In this episode, Hamish Mulcock, Portfolio Manager at ADAMA New Zealand, introduces Tower, a new pre-emergent herbicide for wheat and barley designed to strengthen weed control and support resistance management in arable systems. As herbicide resistance continues to challenge growers, Hamish explains how Tower brings a new active ingredient to the New Zealand market, chlortoluron, alongside pendimethalin and diflufenican, delivering three complementary modes of action in one application.

In this episode, Phil Journeaux shares his strong thoughts on the failings of the New Zealand’s National Policy Statement (NPS) for Highly Productive Land and how the Ministry for the Environment’s ‘economically viable’ metric was flawed.

A 10-year Lincoln University long-term pasture persistence trial (PPT), looking at different grass species, predominantly perennial ryegrass, is unique in its duration and ability to evaluate the performance of a range of grass cultivars.Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

After four decades working in irrigation, Stephen McNally is urging whole-of-life thinking for irrigation design. The one lesson that keeps repeating is that systems chosen on capital price alone rarely deliver the best long-term value. Words Stephen Mcnally & Kath Healy.

A recent farmer panel highlighted the importance of balancing the adoption of new technologies while still retaining core farming skills. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

In late winter, emerging from a carrot paddock near Woodlands, the sight of bright lights, faint zapping sounds and puffs of smoke might turn a few heads; but it is just Matthew Malcolm's "killer robot" at work. Words Karen Trebilcock.

Farmgate returns, using the advertised schedule prices for lamb, beef and venison since 2004, shows the increasing price trend line for venison matches lamb and is ahead of the trend line for beef. Words Tony Leggett.